A Golden Record for Johann Sebastian Bach?..

It was actually supposed to be a “Gold Record” to honor Johann Sebastian Bach. But … why “just gold”? At the last minute – just hours before the event – the host of a Belgian Classical Music Station simply changed his mind. He’s a modest man: Elmar von Kolson, pictured above with the platinum CD for Johann Sebastian Bach, in a set of three. To do justice to Bach’s monumental body of work, he expressly wished to accept the honor only on behalf of the entire Bach family of musicians. And the idea to make this honor accessible to a wider audience in a fitting setting – and to make it available on loan to the Bach House in Eisenach – also came from the composer’s great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson from Eisenach..

News Regarding Bach in Eisenach..

More than 260 years after his death and nearly 330 years after his birth, Johann Sebastian Bach was thus presented with a platinum CD in Eisenach, in recognition of his great masterpiece ... the St. Matthew Passion. This belated honor was presented to Elmar von Kolson by host Kurt Van Eeghem of the Belgian Classical Radio Station Klara (... Klassik Radio). Elmar von Kolson is Bach’s seventh-generation great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson. The event was celebrated together in the presence of his wife Renate, other members of the world’s most famous musical family, the director of the Bach House, Dr. Jörg Hansen, and guests. The presentation of the platinum CD took place in the concert hall of the Bach House. The next event on the program was a guided tour during which Hansen showed the Belgian media specialist some special features related to Bach at the Bachhaus. An interview with Bach’s great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson, Elmar von Kolson, concluded the event..

On the right is the event’s host: Director Dr. Jörg Hansen, curator of the Bachhaus and Bach Museum in Eisenach, at Frauenplan. On the left is the moderator, Kurt Van Eeghem. Elmar von Kolson is standing in the middle. It almost would have been “just” a gold record..

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Radio Klara Listeners Vote Bach No. 1..

Klara is a Belgian radio station that has specialized in broadcasting Classical Music since 2000. Every year, its listeners vote on the most popular Classical Music Piece from bygone eras from a list of the top 100. And, of course, Johann Sebastian regularly ranks among the top spots. And takes the number-one spot more often than average. In 2013, Johann Sebastian Bach once again claimed that top spot. The St. Matthew Passion was No. 1 that year. But Bach also claimed other spots in the top ten for 2013..

Both Renate and Elmar von Kolson have contributed greatly to the preservation of immeasurably valuable cultural heritage in the Bach village of Wechmar. If any family member deserves the honor of accepting the Platinum Award on behalf of the family, it is this couple, the von Kolsons, seven generations after the superstar..

Gold Turns Platinum, the Record Becomes a CD, of Course..

The original plan was to award Johann Sebastian Bach a gold record. However, they changed their minds. This was because they compared the number of recordings required for gold and platinum certifications. Shortly before the ceremony, they came to the conclusion that gold did not do justice to Johann Sebastian Bach’s work ... and decided on the spot to award him a platinum CD instead ... in a set of three..

Press, public, platinum for Bach: Honor to whom honor is due ... Renate and Elmar von Kolson plus the host of Radio Klara..

Elmar von Kolson, 7th Great-Grandson Is Honored With the Federal Cross of Merit..

Elmar von Kolson, recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit, together with his wife Renate, immediately loaned the trophy to Dr. Jörg Hansen, who has since proudly made it accessible to the public at the Bach House and the Bach Museum. Von Kolson is a seventh-generation direct descendant of the great composer. Both von Kolsons received the Cross of Merit on the initiative of Gotha’s Mayor Kreuch, specifically for their dedication surrounding Johann Sebastian Bach:..

In Wechmar, the ancestral home of the Bache family – as they were formerly known – the von Kolsons purchased the former historic school building. They spent many months renovating it in a nerve-wracking process. This allowed this valuable cultural asset to be preserved. Knut Kreuch himself is also a recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit for his work related to Bach. He played a key role in preserving the Veit Bach Mill and the Bach Ancestral Home in Wechmar. A few years ago, the mill was nearly demolished to make way for a road ... before it was discovered as an important Bach site. Today, perfectly restored, it is open to visitors from all over the world..

That’s something to be proud of for all eternity: this belated tribute to Johann Sebastian Bach. Pictured on the left is host Kurt Van Eeghem, in the center is Elmar von Kolson, and on the right is Bach House Director Dr. Jörg Hansen..

A Round Trip Belgium/Eisenach And Back..

The event was organized by the creative team and operators of the new Bach internet portal, Bach über Bach, and its international sister project, Bach on Bach, in collaboration with the cool Bachhaus in Eisenach. Bach über Bach is the world’s most cross-media website on the subject. And it is by far the largest of its kind in Germany..

The man in gold in the center of the background: the Master from Eisenach. His St. Matthew Passion has now gone platinum..

Johann Sebastian Bach, his great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson, the Belgian radio host, a platinum CD: These are ... a news story, an event, a photo..

Radio Klara interviewed Elmar von Kolson at what was then the Bach Family House in Bach’s birthplace. With a crew of six, the Radio Klara team from Belgium was in Eisenach to take photos, shoot video, and write up the story..

We had to set aside a little time for a tour. After the platinum CD had been handed over, the video had been filmed, the photos had been taken, and the background information for the news article had been researched..

There’s always exciting news at the Bachhaus in Eisenach: Dr. Hansen, the director, keeps his guests – from nearby Wechmar and as far away as Belgium – up to date..

There are some interesting things to see at the Bach House in Eisenach. A visit is exciting not only when there is news about Johann Sebastian Bach to report from the Bach House..

The Video About the Gold Record Respectively the Platinum CD for Johann Sebastian Bach..

Radio Klara's video about the gold record – or rather, the platinum CD – is another example of the Belgian professionals' work extending beyond radio. Although it's unfortunately not in German, with a little effort you can understand quite a bit of it. © Radio Klara..

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